Reflection 08-B: Crowning Achievements—The Cult of the Princess

Do Disney's princess help or hurt young girls' self-esteem?

Though America has no history of royalty, we are currently overrun with princesses. Specifically, we have been invaded by a pint-sized army of pink-clad and bejeweled little girls. Led by Disney's iconic female characters, young girls across the country are currently eating up all things princess. But along with this craze has come new concerns that this fascination with princesses, with its emphasis of appearance and passivity, is actually undermining girls. Some argue that girls are getting the message that fantasy, even romance, are more important that self-sufficiency and personal growth. Is princess play harmless fun or can it negatively impact a girl's self-esteem? Is there a middle ground? Can the princess motif be modified to better empower girls? Finally, if princesses are, indeed, harmful to girls in the long run, what would be a more suitable interest for them to pursue? 

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

• "Disney Princesses and the Battle for Your Daughter’s Soul" (Daily Beast) 
• "Bonfire of the Disney Princesses" (The Nation) 
• "When Princess and Non-Princess Worlds Collide" (Princess-Free Zone) 
• "Disney's Royally Twisted Message to Girls" (Utne Reader) 
• "In Defense of Disney Princesses" (Religion Today) 
• "The Princess Effect: Self-Esteem Builder or Self-Image Destroyer?" (KSMU Radio) 

 Requirements:

•  Must be in MLA Style 
• Must be two full pages in length 
• Must include a works cited page 

Due: Thursday, Dec. 6th

Reflection 08-A: Dirty Pictures—The Practice of "Sexting"

Is sexting just sexy fun or are you playing with fire?

As with all new technologies, people have quickly adapted cell phone cameras to a variety of sexual applications. In this case, "sexting" is the practice of exchanging sexually explicit images of oneself or messages via texts or emails. And if some surveys are to be believed, it is becoming increasingly prevalent in America, especially amongst the young. Law enforcement, educators, and parents are increasingly alarmed by the sexting "epidemic" and the actions of, often under-age, teens who engage in this practice without fully considering the consequences. Some authorities have even gone so far as to charge some under-age teens with possession of child pornography. But is sexting truly an epidemic or simply the 21st century equivalent of explicit love letters? What are the long term ramifications of this practice? Decades from now, are we likely to see political candidates defending photos they took in their youth? Will anyone still care? Or could provocative pictures you take now cost you a job in the future? Finally, is there such a thing as a "smart" way to sext photos of yourself?

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion: 

• "The Urge to Sext Naked Self-Portraits is Primal" (Wired)
• "Which is Epidemic—Sexting or Worrying about It? (Wall Street Journal)
• "'Sexting' Common Among Teens: Survey" (Yahoo! News)
• "Sexting Among Teens Means Risk" (Mashable)
• "Teen Sexting No One's Business?" (Philadelphia Inquirer) 
• "Practice Safe Sexting: 8 Ways to Hit 'Send' Without Regret" (GirlsGuideTo)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
• Must include a works cited page

Due: Thursday, Dec. 6th

Week 15

 

 “Dude, I don’t want to talk about Lacey’s prom shoes. 

And I’ll tell you why: I have this thing that makes me 

really uninterested in prom shoes. It’s called a penis.”
 

―John Green, Paper Towns

 

Week 15
Tu 11.27
Class: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Th 11.29
Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Mad Dash: Prompts”

Week 16
Tu12.04
Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Mad Dash: Thesis Statements”

Th 12.06
Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Mad Dash: Essay Outlines”
Due: REFLECTION 8-A or 8-B

Sa 12.08
FINAL EXAM: 8 AM, LOCATION TBD

Week 17
Tu 12.11 Class: Course review 

 

 

Gender in the News: 11.24.12

A Chinese grandfather modeling his teen granddaughter's fashions has become a hit

• The new Chinese sensation: The teen fashion-wearing grandpa AMERICABLOG 
• US Preventive Services Task Force: Make HIV tests as common as cholesterol checks for everyone 15 - 64 WASHINGTON POST
• Meet the "female" male model TIME
• American teen boys increasingly concerned about body image NEW YORK TIMES
• Saudi Arabia now tracking female citizens electronically RAWSTORY
• US abortions down 5%, biggest decline in a decade USA TODAY 

 

Week 14

“Why is it," he said, one time, at the subway entrance,

"I feel I've known you so many years?"

"Because I like you," she said,

"and I don't want anything from you.”

—Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

Week 14
Tu 11.20 Class: Watch—Miss Representation (2011)
Due: REFLECTION 7

Th 11.22 NO CLASS—THANKSGIVING

Week 15
Tu 11.27
Class: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Th 11.29
Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Mad Dash: Prompts”

Week 16
Tu12.04
Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Mad Dash: Thesis Statements”

Th 12.06
Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Mad Dash: Essay Outlines”
Due: REFLECTION 8-A or 8-B

Sa 12.08
FINAL EXAM: 8 AM, LOCATION TBD

Week 17
Tu 12.11 Class: Course review

Gender News: 11.17.12

Getting into the act: Men are now embracing burlesque performance

• Introducing Boylesque, burlesque for men NEW YORK TIMES
• But everyone else is doing it: American culture and adultery NPR
• Modern Family's Justin Tyler Furgeson launches Tie the Knot to benefit marriage equality JUSTJARED
• Can a home pregnancy test detect testicular cancer in men? TIME
• Ohio Fox anchor briefly suspended for calling Rachel Maddow an "angry young man" NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
• Getting theirs, too: Porn sites amongst the most visited in Islamic countries AL ARABIYA

Reflection 07-B: It's Complicated—Dating in the Age of Social Media

As if dating wasn't hard enough, now technology is a factor to contend with

Facebook, Foursquare, Instagram, Match.com, Twitter, and other social media sites, have revolutionized the ways in which people, particularly those under 30, approach dating. In this new world of high-tech dating, emoticons, relationships statuses, user profiles, friend requests, and tagged photos, have dramatically altered the rules of engagement. Today, people have far more available information about potential mates than at any time in the past. For example, consider how common the practice of Googling someone is these days. But new technology also means new rules. Just what are the spoken and unspoken rules of dating in the age of social media? What are some of the potential pitfalls of dating through technology? And what must you contend with that perhaps older generations did not?

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion: 

• "A Definitive Etiquette Guide for Couples on Social Media" (Atlantic) 
• "10 Tips for Dating in the Social Media Age" (Mashable)
• "The 10 Most Common Lies in Online Dating Profiles" (Yahoo!)
• "A Treasury of the World's Worst Online Dating Stories" (The Awl)
• "How Facebook Ruined Dating (and Breaking Up Too)" (Buzzfeed)
• "Psychologists Highlight Pitfalls of Online Dating" (CNN) 

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
• Must include a works cited page

Due: Tuesday, Nov. 20th  

Reflection 07-A: The New Birds and the Bees—Sex Education for the 21st Century

How would you design a 21st century sex eduction course?

Speaking to a United Nations AIDS conference in 1994, then-US Surgeon General Dr. Jocelyn Elders suggested that masturbation was "part of human sexuality, and perhaps it should be taught." After a quick public outcry, she was fired by President Clinton. Nearly twenty years later, masturbation is only one of many topics that remain taboo in the sex education classes of America. Today, fights rage over everything from abstinence-only programs to the presence of contraceptives on campuses; even the mentions of abortion and homosexuality are hotly debated. While some Americans favor sex education based on current sexual health information, others insist on abstinence-based approaches—if at all. Thus, these sex education varies widely from state to state, even county to county. What kind of sex ed class would you design? What do you believe is must-know information for today's students? And how do you decide what is appropriate or inappropriate for K-12? What information, if any, should be the responsibility of parents? Finally, at what age would your program begin and why?

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

• "Sex Education Around the World" (SparkLife)
• "Carnal Knowledge: The Sex Ed Debate" (MSNBC)
• "US Conservatives Attack UNESCO's Sex-Ed Guidelines" (Time)
• "Teaching Good Sex" (New York Times)
• "Texas Public School Districts Alter Sex Education Programs" (Hilltop Views)
• "Abstinence-Only Education Debate Resurfaces" (US News & World Report)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
• Must include a works cited page

Due: Tuesday, Nov. 20th

Week 13

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

—Nat King Cole, "Nature Boy"

Week 13
Tu 11.13
Read: WHEN—“Women’s Liberation” – “Work and Children”
Class: Watch—“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” from Mad Men (2007), Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 6-A or 6-B

Th 11.15
Read: WHEN—“The 1980s—Having It All” – Epilogue
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: PROCESS ESSAY (DRAFT 2; ATTACH ONE COPY OF DRAFT 1) 

Upcoming:

Week 14
Tu 11.20 Class: Watch—Miss Representation (2011)
Due: REFLECTION 7-A or 7-B

Th 11.22
NO CLASS—THANKSGIVING

Gender in the News: 11.10.12

• PETA: What veganism can do for men's bits BUZZFEED
• Pat Robertson "shocked" that women actually like porn HUFFINGTON POST
• British relationship expert: Men prefer "average" women DAILY MAIL
• The Dallas Mavericks Dancers go the "less is more" route with new uniforms YAHOO! SPORTS
• Own a piece of The Bieb: The "Just-In Beaver" sex doll is now available E!
• Why the GOP lost the women vote NEW YORK TIMES

Reflection 06-B: I Kissed a Girl—Lesbianism in Pop Culture

Note: Starting with  Reflection 06, you will have now two options (A or B) to write about; choose only one to write about each time. 

In recent years, lesbianism has become increasingly visible in American pop culture. In television, music, and film, lesbianism has seemingly reached a higher level of mainstream acceptance. Of course, lesbianism in the media has not always encountered total acceptance as its portrayal still carries with it an element of taboo. Add to this complaints from the lesbian community that the lesbianism portrayed in popular culture is often faux-lesbianism, defined by heterosexuals and crafted for the pleasure of men. In fact, one need only look the prevalence of "lesbians" in straight male porn to see how lesbian sexuality has been co-opted. Nonetheless, the past two decades has seen an exponential increase in lesbian imagery from The L Word to Ellen DeGeneres to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Why have lesbians, or at least acts of lesbianism, become so much more prominent? And why has popular culture not embraced male/male displays of sexuality in the same way? Finally, has the media made it okay for heterosexual women to be open about their sexual appreciation for other women?

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

• "Faking Lesbianism in Pop Culture and Patriarchal Bargains" (Femmedia)
• "Fake Nails and Faux Lesbians" (McSweeney's)
• "Second Lesbian Protest for J.C. Penney" (InvestorPlace)
• "Femme Invisibility" (Huffington Post)
• "Why 'Glee's' Brittany and Santana are My Queer Icons" (AfterEllen)
• "Hollywood's Unholy Love for the Faux-Lesbian Kiss" (AOL News)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
• Must include a works cited page

Due: Tuesday, Nov. 13th

Reflection 06-A: I Feel Pretty—Attractiveness in America

How advantageous is it to be physically attractive in our society? 

Note: Starting with  Reflection 06, you will have now two options (A or B) to write about; choose only one of the options each time. 

As Americans, we are all told that "beauty is only skin deep," and that "real beauty lies on the inside." We are told that. But the realities of our culture tell quite a different story. Beauty, as it turns out, is not only celebrated in America, but rewarded. Good looks can land a person preferential treatment at restaurants, on airplanes, even in court. It's as if beautiful people are allowed to live in a bubble. What do you feel are the benefits of being attractive in American society? Are good looking people treated more favorably than the general population? Finally, are there any downsides to being beautiful in America?

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

• "The Science of Magnetism" (Guardian)
• "Beautiful People are More Intelligent" (Psychology Today) 
• "Calling Miss Congeniality: Do Attractive People have Attractive Traits and Values?" (ScienceDaily)
• "Good Looks Will Get You that Job, Promotion, and Raise" (Psychology Today)
• "10 Pleasures and Pains of Being Beautiful" (PsyBlog)
• "Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful" (Daily Beast)

Requirements:

• Must be in MLA Style
• Must be two full pages in length
• Must include a works cited page

Due: Tuesday, Nov. 13th

Week 12

"A deranged person is supposed to have the strength of ten men. 

I have the strength of one small boy—with polio."

—Woody Allen, Shadows and Fog

Week 12
Tu 11.06
Read: WHEN—“Repudiating Rosie” – “Housework”
Class: SHORT ANSWER RESPONSES 

Th 11.08
Read: WHEN—“The Ice Cracks” – “The Decline of the Double Standard”
Class: Writers workshop
Due: PROCESS ESSAY (DRAFT 1; BRING 2 COPIES) 

Upcoming:

Week 13
Tu 11.13
Read: WHEN—“Women’s Liberation” – “Work and Children”
Class: Watch—“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” from Mad Men (2007), Presentations
Due: REFLECTION 06-A or 06-B

Th 11.15
Read: WHEN—“The 1980s—Having It All” – Epilogue
Class: Reading discussion; Presentations
Due: PROCESS ESSAY (DRAFT 2; ATTACH ONE COPY OF DRAFT 1)

Gender in the News: 11.03.12

Each November, men around the world grow facial hair to raise funds and awareness for men’s health issues

• Welcome to "Movember" HUFFINGTON POST
• Mormon women serving missions in bigger numbers NEW YORK TIMES
• Understanding men and fear GQ
• Report: LA porn stars have more STDs than Nevada prostitutes LOS ANGELES TIMES
• Should anti-breast cancer campaigns ever be sexy? USA TODAY
• Holiday shoppers: How males and females compare MINT.COM